LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 81, 18 November 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The usual instalment of Dog Lore appears in another part of this issue. To-day was pay day at the local dairy factories. Mr Edward Jackson obtained over a hundred entries for the Stratford Show while at Wanganui. His Excellency the Governor will visit the Nelson A. and P. Show next week. It is understood that operations at the Waitara Freezing Works will recommence at the end of the month. An anonymous donor has presented Hastings with a set of Cambridge chimes, which will ring out the hours tunefully from the Post Office tower. At yesterday’s meeting of the Now Plymouth Harbour Board it was decided to send the Paritutu to Wellington to go on the patent slip /or overhaul early in January. Feilding’s oldest settlor, Mr Richard Bonder, passed away yesterday morning at the age of 91 years. Mr Bowler was the third person to settle on the Manchester block in the early ’seventies, and he has resided in Fcilding ever since. Mrs. A. Dean, Whangaraomona, had four fawn pugs (two bitches and two dogs) entered at the Wanganui Show., and .won all the first prizes (fourteen), six second prizes, two challenges, two silver medals, and trophy for the best novice .dog in the class. The puppy dog which won one of the challenges' was only eight months old. At the Royal Horticultural Hall, Westminster, recently a. new berry, the Laxton-bcrry (obtained by crossing ,tho loganberry ■ with the rasp berry) was exhibited. The plant ,is a perpetual bearer, • fruiting from June to November. ’ The berry is a sweet dessert fruit, resembling a raspberry which has grown to the proportions of a fair-sized strawberry.

An incident showing the persistency of the starling in keeping to a place, in which it lias decided' to build its nest is reported by a Palmerston resident. The site selected in this case was the wash-house chimney. On two different occasions the nests have been burnt out, they having prevented the exit' of the smoke, and now a third ond is ill the couse of construction. .ho; • • ‘ • • ■ •o'. -It is now asserted that Tinakori the name of a Wellington thoroughfare is wrongly ; spelt. It should lie spelt Tinakore, which means “dinnerless.” The road was so dubbed by the Maoris who made it, because their wages were so small that they could not buy enough to eat. The spelling has become corrupted to Tinakori, which means the dinner that disagrees with one. The Tourist Department has decided to commence operations at an early date for the exploitation of the supply of hot-'mineral water at Hanmer Springs, indicated as being present by the Rev. H. Mason, the water diviner. A Gin. bore will be put down, and the work has been entrusted to Mr J. W. Horne, a well-sinker of long experience, who recently sunk six wells at Morvcrn, which had been located by the Rev. H. Mason. The obelisk known as Cleopatra’s Needle was erected by Thothrnes 111., at Heliopolis, about IGOO 13. C. It was shipped from Egypt to England in September, 1877, on the Cleopatra, which encountered very severe weather and had to be abandoned in a gale. The Cleopatra with the obelisk on was picked up by the Fitzmaurice and towed into Vigo. Arrangements were then made for the s.s. Anglia to tow the Cleopatra to England where the obelisk arrived on January 20, 1878.

The Baptist clergyman who initiated tlie agitation 'in London against the Johnson-Wells fight (Rev. F. B. Meyer), I'oplied as follows to a suggestion that he was opposed to boxing:—“To the present generation of young Englishmen I would certainly never say a word to diminish any incentive to virile manhood. As far as I am concerned I say to all young men—By all manner of means, gentlemen, box ; only (1) do your own boxing and not by proxy; (2) box for points and health, and not for cash ; (3) box the Devil and all his works. A youthful interrupter helped the Rev E. Tregear t" amuse the audience at liis prohibition meeting at Wellington the other night. The lecturer was speaking in favour of the abolition of barmaids when a young man sitting not far from the front exclaimed “Wouldn’t they make the trade better?” Mr. Tregear did not repel this suggestion but said he would make a condition that no hotel should have a barmaid, under seventy years oT ago. “And then,” he added amidst laughter “I don’t think my young friend would be so fond of the bar.” This brought the youth to his feet. “1 have the honour,” he said, in clear and ringing tones, “to be a misogynist, so your statement is incorrect. Try another.” “Miss who?” asked the lecturer, amid more peals of laughter. Hie interrupter answered readily enough, “1 a n not here to teach you the English language. 1 said “misogynist.' 1 A misogynist is a woman-hater,” said Mr. Tregear. “Look at him,” which was easily done for the young man was tall and still standing. “Can you imagine a young man of ordinary com-mon-sense standing up and saying ho is a woman-hater? It’s too foolish for anything.” “Not so foolish as lots of things you’ve said,” came the reply of the “woman-hater.” “Why, he’s only eighteen,” continued the lecturer. “Seventeen!” shouted back the misogynist. The chairman thou closured the incident, although lecturer, interrupter and audience still seemed to bo enjoying themselves.

Mr. C. D. Sole, has received a reply from the Governor to the effect that tie has brought under the notice of the secretary of the Wellington branch of the Royal Humane Society the action of the boy Dodd in connection with the recent drowning of ! iielma Edwards. The Rev. E. H. Wyatt, of Auckland, who (as previously stated) is relieving the Rev. W. A. Butler, vicar of Stratford, while the latter is enjoying a short holiday, will conduct services at Holy Trinity Church tomorrow. 'Fhe “Taranaki Herald” points out that to-day it is fifty years since the Bank of New Zealand opened its fust agency in Taranaki, in the [renrses of Mr. J. C. Richmond, on Mount Eliot. Mr. Thomas King aas the agent in charge. The Oddfellows intend holdings another euchre party in the Foresters’ Hall on Monday evening next, the ‘2oth inst.,Special prizes have been donated by members of the lodge, and are on view in Bellringer Bros’ shop window. Next Wednesday and Thursday the Taranaki Agricultural Show takes place on the Racecourse, New Plymouth, only needs line weather to make it a record gathering in the Society’s history. The secretary returned last night from Wanganui, and reports big entries from that end. A large number of entries have also been sent in during the last fortnight from all along the line and up and down the coast. As the entries do not close until to-night at 9 o’clock, a very busy day is expected at the secretary’s office. In the course of his presidential address to the Auckland Methodist Synod, the Rev. Geo. Bond referred to the question of manly sport, which, he said, the Methodist Church fostered and encouraged, even going so far as. to make provision for gymnasiums, and cricket, football, and other clubs. But she sought to protect such sport from the "insidious spirit of gambling, which spread its blighting curse over so many otherwise recreative amusements. They must promote clean, innocent sports, which would give physical and moral recreation, but protest with all their might against the curse of gambling and sabbath desecration.

On Thursday afternoon last the St. Andrew’s Tennis Club held their official opening day, when a large number of members and visitors had a most enjoyable afternoon’s play, the courts being in good order considering the recent weather. The plentiful supply of good things suplied by the president (Mr Brayshaw) and Mi’s Brayshaw completed the afternoon’s enjoyment. The committee had had both the asphalt and grass coui’ts topdressed and are increasing the height of the netting fence by six feet, so that play for the coming season should be of the best. A successful season is predicted for this popular club. It is reported that blight is spoiling many of the potato crops in Tikorangi district.

Two small boys with a. difference of opinion, and some desire to display their little knowledge of the noble art, caused a crowd to gather in O’Connell Street at noon to-day, says Tuesday’s Auckland “Star.” They were almost immediately parted by a very respectable gentleman, who, unfortunatly, happened to be highly excitable, and was roused to an hysterical pitch of excitement by the epithet “wowser” cast at him from the' crowd. Grotesquely gesturing, he rated the increasing number of onlookers, and provided the public for a quarter of an hour with entertainment. When everybody had got tired and moved on, the boys came back and finished their battle, . till one of them retired with a sprained thumb. ' A layman at the Methodist Synod at Katoomba got down to the core of things, says the Sydney “Daily Telegraph,” in regard to hindrances to Church progress in his centre. He came from a circuit not far from Sydney, and he had been commissioned to induce the Synod to allow his circuit to help itself to a bite from-m, neighbouring one. The Synod was in a palpably obdurate mood, and the representative was constrained to be momentarily confidential. “Fact is,” he admitted, “what is wanted is to get the people converted, and their purses too.” (Hear hear.) “Many of them have the money, but they tighten up their purse-strings; and when we come to quarterly meetings the steward looks at me, and I look at him, and—” But the situation appeared to lie only too clearly understood by the more experienced members of both ministerial and lay ranks. The lay member had got down to bedrock as to a fairly prevalent difficulty in Church work; but what will happen to him when he gets back to Ins centre is a matter of imagination. There was a somewhat’unpleasant incident at the Yarmouth race meet- 1 ing caused by a curious hobby which is growing increasingly popular among lovers of racehorses, says the “Standard.” A horse suddenly lashed out with its heels, and a man "who was behind it narrowly escaped serious injury. The trainer spoke to the man angrily, and when asked to explain the incident the trainer.said that the man had been trying to pull hairs from the horse’s tail. He added that

many people made collections of the hairs from famous horses. Ordinarily they wrote to the owner pr trainer for them, but there were a* certain number of men who tried to make a few shillings by plucking them from the horses at different meetings. It appears that there are many such collections, ai\d one of them recently changed hands for twenty guineas. Such a price is above the average, but this collection contained sixty hairs, three from each of the tails of twenty winners of classic races, amongst them being Galopin, Ormonde, Flying Fox, Sceptre, Ard Patrick, Rock Sand, Pretty Polly and Spearmint, the genuineness being vouched for by letters from the various owners and trainers.

During the past week the New Plymouth East Flying Club determined two races, says the “Daily News.” The first race eventuated on Saturday last, being a Hock race flown from Te Awamutu. Fifty birds participated, with the following result:—H. J. Moverley’s ‘C'ampfire,” 3hrs lOmin, t ; F. James’ “Golden Eagle,” 3brs llmin, 2; H. Patterson’s “Airship,” and R. Davy’s “Loyal Blue,” 3hrs 12 min 2osee, 3. The second event, tlown from Wellington under very trying conditions, was the Champion Interval, each member sending one bird, and ten minutes intervening between the liberation of same. A strong head wind with heavy showers told heavily against the birds, and in consequence the majority failed to home m the day of liberation. W. H. Boulton’s “Etta,” the winning bird, covered the distance in Shrs 54min, and was the only bird home on the day. H. J. Moverley’s “Ngaroma” secured second place, homing the following morning, and R. Davy’s “Fairplay” was third, arriving later in the day. The chib’s next race will uc held from Blenheim.

'Yesterday’s storm put the telegraph line to the back country out of order. Repairs are being carried out to-day.

' The Whangamomona County Conncil give notice of certain bridge loan proposals, affecting the bridges in the Strathmore Riding.

To-day the following payments were made to suppliers by dairy factories :—Ngaire £2460, Lowgarth £1966, Cardiff £1405. On Monday the Stratford Factory will pay out £o6/0. Wanganui Show officials are spoken of as “kindness itself,” by Mr E. Jackson, who saysr they did everything possible to show him courtesy and to assist him in his quest lor entries. .>

A meeting of members of the Stratford Amateur Operatic Society will be held 4 in the Parish Hall 911 Monday evening next, the 20th xnst., at 8 o’clock. A full attendance is especially requested. The “Record” says it is understood that Mr. J. N. Gamlin, of Kanpokcniii, is cutting np his property, comprising nearly 600 acres, into several smaller sections, and is placing commodious new dwelling houses and other, up-to-date buildings on cadi. The hand continues to make good progress. On show nights a picaue programme will be given in the iown Hall by Mesrs Saunders and Crust, Half the proceeds to go to the oand. The band will render selections at the laying of the foundation stone of the new school.

Passengers in the north-bound train yesterday afternoon, when near glare, saw a remarkable lightning display. One particularly lurid .flash struck a log lying within two chains of the moving train, and rent it to pieces with a tremendous noise like an explosion. It was fortunate the train was not struck.

During he parade at the Wanganui Show—winch, by the way, was a particularly good one—some joker loosened the belly-band of a horse attached to a gig containig three young men. Just in front of the grandstand the gi< r shot right up and the three occupants were deposited in a heap on the ground. Wd are specialy requested to ask farmers to note that cows entered for the butter-fat competition at Stratford Show must be delivered at Mr W. G. Malone’s paddock, Opunake Road, not later than 5 p.m. on Monday next, November 20th. Mr S. Porritt will then take personal charge of the stock competing.

About seventy Territorials and Senior Cadets were sworn in at the Waitara Hides’ orderly room on Monday evening. The officers present included Captains Cardale, Pope, Ramage, and Whyte. Captain Cardale, in the course of some brief congratulatory remarks, said that the course of training would not entail any hardship upon those who participated in it.

: A wedding of considerable inti-rest was', celebrated in. ..Waitara. on Thursday'last,when Mr. Roy Jury, second" of Mi : .'TV. H. Jury, of jMew Plymouth, arid nephew of Mrs. A. J. Jury, of Waitara, was united ; n matrimony. to Miss Elsie Kathleen _ Gavin, daughter of- Mrsi E. Gavin, of Ellerslie,) Auckland, the nuptial knot' ■being; tied . bj ? > the Rev. Dean Melven- '!<; ; : ■■ .< ‘ a .

; Mr. Julius Plitscii, well-known in Stratford—and even . much further afield ■ as; “Ajax,” was amongst the visitors to the Melbourne Cup, and was noticed by some Stratford visit.prsitonbe smilingly collecting a bevy wad of notes froxn.ia, metallician, hn-v-i ing ’had the good fortune to select Parisian to win the big race. Mr. and Mrs. Plitsch are very well, and enjoying life- in Australia.

A Stratford lady visitor to the Msbourri,e Gup does not particularly desire to repeat her experiences.. The great heat, the crush of people, and •the difficulty; of getting to and, fro owing to‘the enormous number travelling to • and , from the racecourse, make .the; game hardly worth the candle, ;;- she thinks. Melbourne, though, she- considers a delightful place for a holiday. Mr E. Jackson, secretary of the Stratford A. and P. Asociation, visited the Wanganui Show this! week for the purpose of securing entries and was highly successful, finding no difficulty in obtaining very hearty support ■ all round, the Stratford Association having already obtained a good name even beyond the province. One Hawke’s Bay breeder will be a large exhibitor, and Mangaweka, Turakina, Waipukurau, Waipawa, Palmerston North and the Manawatu will also be represented. Entries close on Thursday, November 23rd.

Mr E. Jackson’s well-known pony ‘.‘Barney,” prize-winner on a score of battlefields, secured first in the harness pony class at Wanganui last Thursday, against eleven competitors, Mr Jackson driving him l '. The pony was also second in the class for best pony in saddle, twenty-four entries competing, Master Patterson, of Stratfol'd, riding “Barney.” Mr Jackson has now taken twelve prizes with this pony—a very creditable performance for a popular Show secretary!